TELECOMS

Nigeria: NCC Extends SIM Card Registration

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given a grace period for subscribers who were unable to register their SIM cards during the six-month registration exercise. A statement by the NCC and signed by the Head, Media and Public Relations, Reuben Muoka, last week, noted that the commission would begin the collation and harmonisation of all existing registered SIM Cards from across the country, following the successful end of the nationwide SIM registration exercise.

The NCC said, "Given the vast geographical spread of the country, and the logistics involved in the registration exercise over the past six months, there is need for proper harmonisation of the data in line with the specifications issued by the commission.

"The harmonisation process will involve the collation, reconciliation, cleaning, and consolidation of the captured data into a central data infrastructure for efficient management of Nigeria's subscriber data base".

The statement added that the limited period would provide the last chance for all users of existing SIM cards to register, saying that all unregistered SIM Cards would be promptly disconnected without further notice at the conclusion of the harmonization exercise.

"The commission is fully aware of the clamour by many interested stakeholders, and stakeholder organisations, for extension of the period for the registration of existing SIM Cards.

"However, the commission believes that the six months period provided for the registration exercise, gave ample time for all phone users in the country to register their SIM Cards with either their service providers, or the NCC-appointed registration consultants, the NCC added.

It further revealed that service providers would be directed not to disconnect any subscriber on account of the registration until the commission announced the completion of the process after which those who remained unregistered would be disconnected within the limited period of the harmonisation exercise.